RANUNCULACE^. (CROWFOOT FAAIII.V.) 



Ordku I. RANUNCULACEyi:. (Ciiowroox Family.) 



Horbs or clinibiiig shrubs, with a watery acrid juice. Leaves com- 

 monly divided, thoir petioles dilated at the base, without stipules. 

 Flowei-s regular or irregular. Sepals 3-1.'), distiiut, often colored. 

 Petals 5-15, deciduous, often wnnting. Stamens hypogynous, indefi- 

 nite. Ovaries distinct, numerous, rarely few or solitary, 1 -celled, 1 - 

 many-ovuled. Fruit dry or baccate. Embryo minute at the base of 

 lleshv or horny albumen. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



Tribe I. CLiEMATIDEiE. Sepals valvnfe in the bud, colored. Petals Rtamen-like 

 or none. Style elongated, persistent. Fruit an acbeuium. — Chiefly vines. Leaves 

 opposite. 

 L ATKAGEXE. Petals .small and stamen-like. 



2. CLEMATIS. Petals none. 



Tribe IT. ANEMONE.^. Sepals imbricated in the bud, colored. Petals none. 

 Ovules solitJiry. Fruit an acheuium. — llerbs. Floral leaves often whorled, forming 

 an involucre. 



3. ANEMONE. Involucre leaf-like and distant from the long-peduncled flowers. 



4. IIEPATICA. Involucre calyx-like and close to the flower. 



5. TIIALICTKUM. Flowers panicled and without an involucre (except in No. 6). Achenia 



ribbed or inflated. Leaves compound. 



6. TRAUTVETTEKIA. Flowers corymbcd. Involucre none. Achenia 4-angled. Seed erect. 



Leaves simple, lobed. 



Tribe III. RANUNCULE.^. Sepals imbricated in the bud, mostly herbaceous. 

 Petals manifest. Ovules .solitary. Fruit an acheniuni. — Herbs. I^eaves alt mate. 



7. MYOSUUUS. Sepals spurred at the ba.«e. Achenia spiked. Ix:aves radical, linear. 

 3. ll.iNUNCULUS. Sepals spurless. Achenia capitate. Stems leafy. 



Tribe IV. HELLEBORIIVE.*:. Sepals imbricated in the bud, colored. Petals of 

 various forms, or none. Fruit a 1- many-seeded follicle. Leaves alternate. 

 9. CALTHA. Petals none. Follicle many-seeded. Sepals yellow. Leaves simple. 



10. ISOPYRUM. Petals none. Follicle few-seeded. Sepals white. Leaves ccmpound. 



11. AQUILEGIA. Sepals 5, regular. Petals 5, spur-shaped, hollow. Follicle many-seeded. 



Leaves compound. 



12. DELPHINIUM. Sepals 5, irregular ; the outer one spurred. Petals 4, small ; two of tl.em 



spurred, the others stiilked. Follicle many -seeded. Leaves lobed. 



13. ACONITUM Sepals 5. irregular; the outer one large, hooded, and enclosing two long- 



stalked, hooked petals ; the other petals stamen-like or wanting. Follicle many-seeded. 

 Leaves lobed. 



14. ZANTHORIIIZA. Flowers regular Sepals and petals 5; the latter 2 lobed. Follicle 



1-2-seeded. Shrubby. I>eaves compound. 



Tribe V. CIMICl FUGE.*:. Sepals imbricated in the bud, colored. Petals small and 

 flat, or none. Fruit a follicle or berry. — Herbs. Leaves alternate. 



15 HYDRASTIS. Petals none. Ovaries numerous, forming a head of 1-2-seeded berries. 

 Stems l-flow^ered. Leaves simple, lobed. 



16. ACT.^A. Petals 4-8, entire. Ovary solitary, forming a many-seeded berry. Flowers in 

 short oblong racemes. Leaves compound. 



1". CIMICIFUGA. Petals 3-5 2-cleft. Ovaries 1-8, forming many-seeded follicles. Ra- 

 cemes elongated. Leaves compound. 



